Now Playing

5/19/2014 6:00AM

Jerry Seib: A Defining Week for Ukraine

Ukraine will hold an election on Sunday, May 24, that could have broad implications for Russia's future. Jerry Seib explains the importance of the week ahead for the country and the options for Russia in going forward.

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.

I ... we're going to another tense week over Ukraine ... next Sunday May twenty Fifth will be the presidential election in Ukraine that will determine whether the country has a new leadership that is independent and I can stand up for Ukraine and against Russia ... and frankly with a Russian government Latimer put and let the election happened ... at the end of last week the US in its partners in the in the Europeans fear said that if that doesn't happen if the Russians try to interfere with the selection new and more onerous sanctions Libyan impose on Russia so ... we'll see how that turned down in the meantime I think there are two things that suggests she watches the ... date of this election draws near ... one is worth whether the Russian government of President couldn't ... tells its supporters in Eastern Ukraine pro Russian separatists there ... to stand down and let this go happen that would make for more credible election ... in and wouldn't deftly ease the pressure on the U S and present Obama to impose more sanctions on Russia ... in the second thing is will the Russians actually make good on something President Putin said he was doing ... some days back but apparently still hasn't done which is ... to move his troops back off the border that would be a sign ... that the Russians are not going to try to use those troops to intimidate Ukraine ... in the days leading up to the election ... in any case May twenty Fifth is a red letter day